Kurti-Vucciq meeting, analysts: Only sanctions can convince Vucinqi

On Monday 27 February, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, will have the next meeting in Brussels under the dialogue.
There the discussion is expected to take place about the European proposal for normalising relations between the two countries. Political analysts said only sanctions could persuade Vuciqi to accept the plan known as Franco-German.

Political analyst Fidan Ukaj expressed sceptical about next week's meeting between Kurti and Vuciqi, until he said there would be no progress from the meeting.

According to him, the Serb side is ill-equipped in its condition for forming association.

“I do not expect that there will be progress from the summit expected to be held on February 27th, because the Serb side has been barricaded in its condition in forming the Association and Vuciki's going to the meeting is more about showing Brussels that I am ready to be in talks... All hope that there may be an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is seen in the huge pressure the parties may have, especially the Serb from the US and the EU, although we have nothing of that draft, is said that if one of the parties who will not accept this plan will have this sanctions, and that only these sanctions I think can convince Vuciqi to accept this plan and that the region will continue further in integration, in the European” mechanisms, Ukaj said.

While, in terms of the Franco-German plan, Ukay began to argue that it is a good basis for furthering the two sides to integrate into EU institutions.

“It is a good basis for the Franco-German plan to continue on the two states, such as Serbia and Kosovo to integrate with EU institutions ... This plan I believe that unless there is a great pressure from the United States and the EU, I don't believe it will go away and have a normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia”, Ukaj added.

Meanwhile, analyst Arbnor Sadiku spoke more optimistic about the Kurti-Vucciq meeting, to be held in Brussels.

He said Vuciq is not in a situation that may be co-operative for the fact that Serbia has the situation ahead of itself with the “option, or permission”.

According to him, if he does not accept the offer, Serbia will have sanctions with the withdrawal of foreign investors.

“Vucciq is not in a situation where it may be co-operative for the fact that Serbia is known to have the situation ahead of itself with its own option, whether it does not accept the offer, Serbia will have sanctions with attracting foreign investors. It is known that nearly 80 thousand people are employed in Serbia only by German firms working there, so attracting foreign investment to Serbia from the EU would be a major blow to the Serbian economy. And President Vuciq is not willing to play games with the great powers, but certainly will require strong written guarantees that if he accepts this plan, Kosovo will be willing to establish Association for Serb majority municipalities”, Sadiku said.

While in terms of the Franco-German plan, analyst Sadiku stressed that it is good, as he said, Kosovo cannot stay in the deadlock and that the status quo is a situation that still continues to damage Kosovo.

“It is good for itself that Kosovo cannot stay in the deadlock, the status quo is a situation that has damaged Kosovo and damaged it and that all government works have gone into the dialogue by not costing the economic development”, Sadiku added.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq have not held a meeting under Brussels' dialogue since November 2022. The EU said that at the February 27th meeting, the topic of discussion will be the European proposal for full normalisation of reports between Kosovo and Serbia.